Obama: Racial problems won't be solved overnight

President Obama talks about the nation's rising racial tensions in an interview to be broadcast Monday, asking a young, African-American audience to be both persistent and patient.

"This isn't going to be solved overnight," Obama tells BET News in an interview to be aired Monday. "This is something that is deeply rooted in our society, it's deeply rooted in our history."

Speaking in the wake of nationwide protests over grand jury refusals to indict police officers for deaths of black men in Missouri and New York, Obama said he would ask all young people to remember two things.

One, he says, understand that "we have made progress" in the last 50 years, even as the nation still has a way to go.

Second: "We have to be persistent," Obama says in a brief clip provided by the BET Networks. "Because, typically, progress is in steps -- it's in increments."

Speaking specifically to young African-Americans, Obama said "if you talk to your parents, grandparents, uncles, they'll tell you that things are better -- not good, in some cases, but better."

Obama added: "You have to recognize that it's going to take some time, and you just have to be steady."

Parts of the interview -- taped last week -- will air at 5 p.m. ET on BET''s "106 & Park" program. The full interview airs at 6 p.m. ET on "BET News Presents: A Conversation with President Barack Obama."

From BET Networks:

"This marks President Obama's first network interview during which he shares his thoughts on events that have sparked major protests nationwide. The special segment on "106 & Park" is dedicated to bringing an empowering message to finding meaningful solutions and learning from the incidents that occurred in Ferguson, Mo., and across the nation.

"President Obama discussed his strategy not only to investigate the various incidents, but ways in which he believes the country can come together during this time. BET News' Jeff Johnson conducted the interview."